Starmer latest: Prime minister says it’s his ‘duty’ to continue as leader after two allies quit in defence spending row – UK Times

Our political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted his government is reforming welfare amid accusations that the government is prioritising the benefits bill over defence.

The prime minister told the BBC that he does want to “free up more resources from welfare”, after John Healey resigned as defence secretary.

“Let me take that head on because I know that’s a point that’s made and the answer is that is we are reforming welfare,” he said.

“Yeah, I do want to free up more resources from welfare,” Sir Keir said.

“The question is how you do that? I think the right way to do that is to put in place the support to get people into work, I believe that that is the right approach.”

Our political correspondent Millie Cooke says:

As Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership reaches new lows with the collapse of his top defence team, the PM continues to dig his heels in.He has once again insisted that he won’t walk away, nor will he take a leadership challenge lying down.

Sir Keir has insisted that his decision to cling on is not about “personal vanity” or “stubbornness”.

But as even his most loyal allies turn their back on the prime minister, with devastating consequences for the running of the country, his claims that he will stay in post are sounding increasingly hollow – and increasingly misguided.

Sir Keir Starmer said he needed to “turn things around” as he insisted he wanted to lead Labour into the next election.

Asked if he would lead the party into the next general election, he told the BBC: “I’ve always been clear that that’s what I want to do.

“But look, I recognise that given where we are, I need to turn that around and that’s what I intend to do.”

Sir Keir Starmer said he disagreed with former senior military figures who said the Government was not spending enough on defence.

Asked about comments by General Sir Richard Barrons and General Sir James Everard about funding and Britain’s standing in Nato, the Prime Minister told the BBC: “I have the highest respect for the individuals that you have quoted, but I don’t agree.

“These are hard-edged decisions and we are seen as a leading member of Nato.”

Sir Keir pointed to the UK’s role in the “coalition of the willing” formulating security guarantees for Ukraine, and the Anglo-French coalition planning for a deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.

The prime minister defended his record on defence spending on Friday, insisting he has had to make “hard-edged decisions” in the face of a “very volatile world”.

Pointing to conflicts in Ukraine in the Middle East, Sir Keir told the BBC: “We absolutely have to step up to that. That requires me as prime minister to make hard edged decisions.”

He added: “When it comes to defence, it’s my number one priority. And I have taken the difficult decisions to make sure that we are safe as a country because that is my number one priority.”

Sir Keir Starmer has said it is his “duty” to carry on as prime minister and says he does not want to “plunge” the country into the “chaos” of a leadership election.

However, he vowed that if a contest should be triggered, he would fight to stay in his role.

“I don’t think we should plunge the country into the chaos of a leadership election,” he told the BBC.

“I don’t think [a leadership challenge] should happen, but if it does then I will fight.

“And let me just be clear with you. That’s not about personal vanity. It’s not about stubbornness.

“It’s out of a very deep sense of duty. I was elected to serve this country notwithstanding the difficult circumstances that is what I am doing.”

Former health secretary Wes Streeting has said he is likely to launch a leadership challenge, as well as Andy Burnham should he be elected in the Makerfield by-election on 18 June.

Defence will be “a number one priority” at the next spending review, Sir Keir Starmer said.

Asked about John Healey’s criticism of defence funding, the Prime Minister told the BBC: “We have another spending review coming up and before the end of this Parliament, and defence will be a number one priority in that space.”

He also denied this was a promise of “jam tomorrow”, saying: “It’s very important that when I make commitments on something as important as defence that I’m able to point to what the funding is.”

He added: “I’ve tackled it head on and I have taken the decision to reallocate from other departments. That’s not easy.”

The Liberal Democrats plan to table a Humble Address motion in Parliament to force the government to publish all hidden documents and minutes exposing the “dysfunction and discord” behind the delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

The Government was expected to finally publish the Defence Investment Plan today (Friday 12th June), over six months after it was originally due.

It has, however, yet again been delayed due to ferocious disagreement between departments over how to fund a much-needed boost to defence spending, and the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns.

The speculated £18 billion boost is now reportedly being cut to £13.5 billion, despite reports that the UK is facing a £28 billion defence spending shortfall.

The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, has suggested that anything less than £18 billion would mean Britain would struggle to defend itself.

The Liberal Democrats are planning to use all parliamentary tools at their disposal, including pushing for an Emergency Debate when Parliament returns on Monday, and using future opposition days to force the Government to publish all relevant documents, including meeting minutes for those attended by Ministers and officials from Number 10, the Treasury and the Ministry of Defence held since 2nd June 2025, to discover the depth of dysfunction and discord between departments over the DIP.

Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson, James MacCleary MP said: “The continuous delay to the Defence Investment Plan is both shambolic and dangerous. While global threats mount, the Government is caught in a gridlock of ministerial infighting, putting our national security on hold and at risk while they bicker over the budget.”

Work to finalise the government’s defence investment plan is still ongoing, Downing Street has insisted.

The prime minister’s spokeswoman would not be drawn on the nature of discussions between the prime minister and Dan Jarvis, the new defence secretary.

“Work to finalise the Defence Investment Plan continues at pace with the new Defence Secretary and the prime minister has been clear that he is determined to publish it before the Nato summit in July,” she said.

Asked whether the numbers given to John Healey on Monday were “set in stone”, the spokeswoman repeated her answer.

Dan Jarvis, a former Parachute Regiment officer once known as the “steely-eyed messenger of death”, has been appointed defence secretary, a role that could test his reputation for calm amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and a contentious debate over defence spending.